Circular loom



Dec. 7, 1937. F, C, HALE ET AL 2,101,022

CIRCULAR LOOM Filed July 16, 1935 Patented Dec. 7, 1937 CIRCULAR LOOM Frank Corbyn Hale and Robert Yeadon, Spondon, near Derby, England, assignors to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application July 16, 1935, Serial No.'31,598 In Great Britain July 23, 1934 11 Claims.

This invention relates to circular looms, and in particular to the positioning of the shuttles in such looms, the driving of the shuttles relatively to the warps, and the stopping of the loom in 5 the event of thread failure or breakage. The invention relates particularly to circular looms of the type in which the shuttles are positioned within the sheds formed by the warps disposed cylindrically or substantially cylindrically by means of vane wheels penetrating one sheet of warps at each shuttle and entering recesses in the shuttle, slots between the vanes permitting the threads of the penetrated sheet of warps to pass F the vane wheels. This type of mechanism is par- 10 ticularly effective in that it overcomes in quite a satisfactory manner one of the principal difficulties of circular weaving, viz., the positioning f a shuttle totally enclosed by the warp threads without damaging the warp threads, since the only action of the vane wheels on the penetrated sheet of warps is a smooth, uni-directional sliding action on the threads as they pass between the vanes. Used in conjunction with a supporting roller mounted in the shuttle so as to engage 25"-a circular race mounted on the side of the shuttle remote from the vane wheels and their sheet of warps passing between the roller and the race,

the vane wheels provide for a substantially rigid vibrationless support for the shuttle and so When the vane wheels are free from rubbing Contact with the shuttle body, as by engaging pairs of flanged rollers mounted on ythe shuttle as described in U. S. Patent No. 2,050,328, very 35 little wear of the mechanism can take place and the accurate positioning of the shuttle is maintained over a long period.

The present invention consists in an improved mounting and Vdriving arrangement for the vane wheels. According to the invention the vane wheels are mounted on a rotatable shaft which is driven at the requisite rate by a flexible shaft in driving connection therewith, the flexible shaft being driven in turn from any convenient part 45 of the loom.

Thus, the vane wheel shaft may be supported by a ring extending round the loom, and may be connected to the flexible shaft by gears, conveniently of the helical type, while the flexible` 50 shaft may terminate in a pinion placed in driving engagement with a ring of teeth formed on a ring disposed concentrically with the supporting ring and between which and the supporting ring there is relative circular motion with respect 55 to the loom axis. The flexible shaft provides a direct connection between the vane wheel shaft and the toothed ring, and enables the vane wheel assembly, including the supporting means and driving gear, to be compact in construction. In

60 addition, the iiexible drive enables the vane wheel maintain the shuttle accurately positioned.-

shaft to be readily adjusted in position and to be easily withdrawn for removal of the shuttle, as will appear from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention. This embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing in relation to a loom in which the shuttles rotate, though it will be apparent that it can equally be used in a loom in which the shuttles are normally stationary while the warps rotate.

Figure 1` is a somewhat diagrammatic part cross-sectional elevation of sufficient of a circular loom to illustrate the vane wheel mounting and driving mechanism in connection therewith; Figure 2 is a part cross-sectional side elevation of the vane wheel mounting and driving mechanism on larger scale; Figure 3 is a part crosssectional front elevation of the mechanism shown in Figure 2; while Figure `4 is a part crosssectional elevation of ka detail of Figure 2.

Referring to Figure 1, warp threads 4 unwinding from beams or like supply packages (not shown) proceed downwardly to the fabric 5 along the fell 6 of which weft is laid by a number of rotating shuttles 1 (one shown). The warp threads 4 .are divided into two separate sheets 8, 9 by a number of ycircular lease rods I0 and are spaced evenly round the loom by a circular comb II supported beneath the lease rods by a spider I2 outstanding from the central shaft I3 of the loom.

Beneath the comb Il the two sheets 8, 9 of Warp threads pass through a circular reed 'I4 having eyed dents I5 and supported by a spider I6. The threads of the sheet 9 are threaded through the eyes of the -dents YI5 while the threads of the sheet 8 are passed between the dents. In this manner when all the warp threads of both sheets 8, 9 are pressed inwardly or outwardly with respect to the central shaft I3, the threads of the sheet 8 are free to move radially along the spaces between the dents I5 to either side of the path of the shuttle while the threads of the sheet 9 are maintained in xed position,

thereby forming a shed for shuttle reception.

In Figure l a shedding wheel I'I mounted for free rotation on a pillar I8 upstanding from a rotatable ring I9 (to be described later) is shown pressing the two sheets of warp threads radially inwards to form a shed for the shuttle l. This shedding action. is effected immediately in advance of each shuttle progressively round the loom, the warp threads being pressed inwardly and outwardly in turn at alternate shuttles.

Each shuttle 'I is supported from outside the outer warp sheet (9 in Figure l) and urged round the loo-m between the shedded warp threads by pairs of vane wheels 28 which engage pairs of flanged rollers 2| freely mounted at two .different levels in recesses formed in the shuttle. The

shape and construction of the vane wheels 2D is such that the vanes 22 pass freely through the outer warp sheet without hindering the passage of the warp threads, which pass smoothly through the spaces between the vanes. n

A plain roller 23 freely mounted about a` substantially vertical axis within a further recess between the levels of the flanged rollers 2|V bears against the edge of a circular race 24 outstanding from the central shaft I3 of the loom, the race thus serving to support each shuttle from the inside of the loom. The warp threads of the inner sheet 8 pass. freely between the face of the roller 23 and the edge of the race 24. Y

The pairs of vane wheels 20 are secured on a rotatable shaft 25 which is supported at the requisite height relatively to the shuttle 1 by brackets 26 upstanding from the ring I9. The shaft 25 is driven from a flexible shaft 21, ruiming in a sheath 23 and terminating in a short rigid spindle 29, by helical gears 3D, 3I mounted respectively between the vane wheels 20 on the shaft 25 and on the spindle 29.

The spindle 29 and the end of the flexible shaft 2'.g in connection therewith are housed within a rigid casing 32 which covers the gears 30, 3| and bears on the shaft V25 between the vane wheels' 20. The casing 32 is maintained in fixed position and prevented from turning with the shaft 25 under the influence of the torque transmitted thereto by an extension 33 which is secured. to a tie-bar 34 connecting the brackets 26. In addition to forming a rigid and compact unit for housing the gearing 30, 3l the casing 32 allows of the provision of an oil bath for the gearing, oil being prevented from escaping along the surface of the shaft 25 between the shaft. and the casing by absorbent washers 35.

'Ihe ring I9 is rotatably supported by grooved pulleys 36 engaging an annular lip 31 formed round the ring, and is driven round the loom at the rate at which it is desired to cause the shuttles to travel, from an electric motor 38, the drive being transmitted by belt gearing 39, a vertical shaft 40 and a gear 4I which engages teeth 42 formed round the ring.

Mounted concentrically with the rotatable ring I9 is a stationary ring 43 to which is fixed a toothed driving Vring 44. The teeth of the ring 44 engage a pinion 45 secured to the lower end of a spindle 46 housed within a bearing 41 on the ring I9, the spindle 4S being connected to the flexible shaft 21 in the same manner as the spindle 29 on the other end of the shaft.

In this manner, on rotation of the ring I9 not only is the vane wheel mechanism rotated bodily about the loom axis but the vane wheels 20' themselves are rotated about their axes by reason of the relative motion between the toothedV driving ring 44 and the pinion 45 on the spindle 46, the iiexible shaft 21 providing a direct connection between the driving ring 44 and the vane wheel shaft 25.

The rotation of the vane wheels 20 round the loom causes the wheels to push against the flanges of the flanged rollers 2I within the shuttle, and thereby to urge the shuttle round the loom between the shedded warp threads, while the rotation of the vane wheels about their own axes Vallows the vanes 22 to pass freely through' the ure 4) securing the brackets 25 to the ring I9, in

order to provide for the removal of the shuttle. The flexible nature of the shaft 21 permits this movement of the vane wheel mechanism without breaking the driving connection between the vane wheels 2U and the driving ring 44. Clearances 5I! formed lin the foot of the brackets 26 allow of ne adjustment of the mechanism as a whole radially towards or away from the shuttle.

The vane wheel supporting and driving mechanism according to the invention forms a unit of light compact construction, and provision may be made for adjusting the positions of the several units round the loom periphery. Thus, for example, a loom. designed to accommodate 12 shuttles may be used if desired with 10 shuttles disposed equi-distantly round. the loom. y

Provision may be made for bringing weaving to an' end in the event of yarn failure or breakage, as by the provision of a feeler mounted upon each shuttle to detect any jamming of the warps such as is occasioned by breakage o-f a warp thread. This feeler operates to bring relative rotation between the shuttle supporting ring and the warps rapidly to an end. Thus, in a rotating shuttle loom a brake may be applied to the shuttle supporting ring, and in addition means may be provided for rapidly disconnecting the drive to the ring, for example, in the manner described in U. S. Patents Nos. 2,065,137 and 2,080,819. Similarly, where the shuttles are normally stationary, these may be brought intorotation under the control of the feeler. In order that cessation of weaving may take place before the jammed warps can be broken orstretched, the rotating -parts of the loo-m should be as light as possible in construction, and preferably members such as the supporting ring, the vane wheel supporting brackets, and the shuttles themselves should as f'ar as possible be constructed of light metals, e. g. light aluminium alloys.

W'hat we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a rotatable shaft for supporting and driving said vane wheels, a flexible shaft in driving connection with said vane wheel shaft, means for adjusting said vane wheel shaft towards or away from the loom axis while maintaining said driving connection, and means for rotating said flexible shaft.

2. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a rotatable shaft for supporting and driving said vane wheels, a gear on said shaft, a flexible shaft for driving said vane wheel shaft, a gear on said flexible shaft in engagement with the gear on said vane wheel shaft, means for adjusting said vane wheel shaft towards or away from the loom axis while maintaining said gears in driving engagement, and means for rotating said iiexible shaft.

3. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, a rotatable shaft supported by said ring and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a gear on said shaft, a exible shaft for driving said vane wheel shaft, a gear on said flexible shaft in engagement with the gear on said vane wheel shaft, means for adjustingthe position of said vane wheel shaft with respect to said ring while maintaining said gears in driving engagement, and means for rotating said flexible shaft.

4. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, brackets upstanding from said ring, a rotatable shaft supported by said brackets and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a gear on said shaft, a flexible shaft in association with said ring, a gear on said flexible shaft in engagement with the gear on said vane wheel shaft, means for rotating said flexible shaft, and means for adjusting the radial position of said brackets on said ring.

5. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, brackets upstanding from said ring, a rotatable shaft supported by said brackets and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a gear on said shaft, a flexible shaft in association with said ring, a gear on said flexible shaft in engagement with the gear on said vane wheel shaft, means for adjusting the .position of said brackets on said ring while maintaining said gears in driving engagement, a pinion on said flexible shaft, a further ring disposed concentrically with said first mentioned ring and between which and said rst mentioned ring there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, and teeth formed on said further ring, said teeth engaging the pinion on said exible shaft so that the relative motion between the two rings rotates said flexible shaft.

6. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respectto the loom axis, brackets upstanding from said ring, a rotatable shaft supported by said brackets and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a casing supported by said shaft, a gear on said shaft within said casing, a flexible shaft in association with said ring, a rigid spindle in connection with said flexible shaft and disposed within said casing, a gear on said spindle within said casing and in engagement with the gear on said shaft, and means for rotating said flexible shaft.

7. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, brackets upstanding from said ring, a rotatable shaft supported by said brackets and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a casing supported by said shaft, a gear on said shaft within said casing, a flexible shaft in association with said ring, a rigid spindle in connection with said flexible shaft and disposed within said casing, a gear on said spindle within said casing and in engagement with the gear on said shaft, a further rigid spindle on said flexible shaft, a pinion on said further spindle, and means for rotating said pinion.

8. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threadsv into engagement with a shuttle withinthe warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, brackets upstanding from said ring, a rotatable shaft supported by said brackets and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a casing supported by said shaft, a gear on said shaft within said casing, a flexible shaft in association with said ring, a rigid spindle in connection with said flexible shaft and disposed within said casing, a gear on said spindle within said casing and in engagement with the gear on said shaft, a further rigid spindle on said flexible shaft, f

a pinion on said further spindle, a further ring disposed concentrically with said first mentioned ring and between which and said first mentioned ring there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, and teeth formed on said further ring, said teeth engaging the pinion on said further spindle so that the relative motion between the two rings rotates said flexible shaft.

9. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane Wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a ring between which and the warp threads there is relative circular motion with respect to the loom axis, brackets upstanding from said ring, a rotatable shaft supported by said brackets and adapted to support and drive said vane wheels, a casing supported by said shaft, a gear on said shaft within said casing, a flexible shaft in association with said ring, a rigid spindle in connection with said flexible shaft and disposed within said casing, a gear on said spindle within said casing and in engagement with the gear on said shaft, means for rotating said flexible shaft, and means to prevent rotation of said casing around the vane wheel shaft under the influence of the torque transmitted to said shaft.

10. A light vane wheel driving unit for a circular loom, comprising brackets, a rotatable shaft for supporting and driving the vane wheels supported by said brackets, a casing supported by said vane wheel shaft, a gear on said shaft within said casing, a spindle housed within said casing and disposed substantially at right angles to said vane wheel shaft, a gear on said spindle within said casing and in engagement with the gear on said vane wheel shaft, a flexible shaft in connection with said spindle, a driving pinion on said flexible shaft, and means for preventing rotation of said casing about said vane wheel shaft.

11. In a circular loom employing rotatable vane wheels adapted to pass through the warp threads into engagement with a shuttle within the warp shed, a rotatable shaft for supporting and driving said vane wheels, a helical gear on said shaft, a flexible shaft for driving said Vane wheel shaft, a helical gear on said flexible shaft in engagement with the helical gear on said vane wheel shaft, means for adjusting said vane wheel shaft towards or away from the loom axis while maintaining said helical gears in driving engagement, and means for rotating said flexible shaft.

FRANK CORBYN HALE. ROBERT YEADON. 

